Socceroo determination needed to stop cane toads?

Another ‘lateral’ approach to trapping the pests

The last eight minutes of the Socceroos vs Japan match sounded gritty and determined – the Aussies just didn’t give in!

I see a similar grit and determination in the fight against the cane toad invasion – academics and communities seem to be trying every possible avenue.

A new approach from Adelaide:

Dr Mike Tyler from the University of Adelaide says new research is building on the discovery that the pheromones excreted by a native male frog attracts female frogs at large. So, “bottling up cane toads’ sexual odours” is the latest left-field idea to trap this noxious pest.

Researchers are hoping cane toad smells will have a similar pulling power, and although a bit of a gamble, it is something that hasn’t been tried and they may be lucky!

“If it’s an attractant we would be able to attract perhaps females in such numbers, that instead of having to go around and pick up one here and one there, we might be able to attract them together,” says Dr Taylor.